Locomotive hot-water washing and filling system.



W. A POWERS. LOCOMOTIVE HOT WATER WASHING AND FILLING SYSTEM.

' APPLlCATlON FILED JAN. 1?. 1911.,

v Patented July 31, 1917.

v nil/(dam flzweni WILLIAM A. POWERS, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS.

LOGOMOTIVE HOT-WATER WASHING AND FILLING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 17, 1911. Serial No. 603,148.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WiLLIAM A. Pownns', a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Topeka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and tive boilers. 1 By my system I conserve and reuse the greater part of the heat ordinarily contained in the water and steam which -comes from a locomotive in the process of blowing off incident to washing out and cleaning the boiler.

Other systems of this general nature have been previously disclosed and used, but the particular featuresof my system which I desire to set forth herewith are believed to be bothv novel and useful.

. In my pending application, No. 530,131, filed November 27, 1909, I have disclosed means for blowing off the steam from the dome of the locomotive boiler and delivering it direct through a jet condenser to a storage tank. It is obvious that such amethod requires considerable time -due to the long continued evolution or flashing. of steam in the boiler as the pressure is gradually reduced. In my present invention I blow off the water from the lowermost part of the boiler into a spacious separator ordinarily known as a blow-off tank. This can be done quickly as the water in its' liquid form can flow much more rapidly than a corresponding amount by weight in the form of steam.

Theblow-ofi tank is provided at the top with a large discharge pipe adapted to rapidly conduct the steam to a large water supply tank or reservoir where it is delivered directly to and mixed with the water by means of delivery through a special nozzle known as a f noiseless heater.

By this means the steam is at once condensed and the temperature of the supply water raised thereb As the steam isthus delivered from the separator tank the water remaining is drawn off from the lower part into the sewer or otherwise disposed ofas is most convenient. It will be seen that the chief characteristic feature of my device is thus delivering the steam direct from the separator to the feed water storagetank where it serves to heat the water.

Raymer in his Patent No. 7 88,376 of April 25, 1905, discloses a system somewhat related to mine, but instead of the arrangement above described Raymer discloses connections whereby the steam from the 'blowoff tank or separator is conducted to an exhaust steam heater or condenser fI'OHll which any surplus uncondensed steam is allowed to escape. The function of his condenser is to heat supply water in a condenser tank before it is fed to a supply tank.

Other objects of my invention besides the one above set forth include means for auto matically adjusting the escape of the waste boiler water from the blow-01f tank, after the temperature and pressure are so reduced that substantially no more steam will be given olf therefrom, and also means to regulate the flow of fresh cold feed water to the supply tank in accordance with the temperature of the water in the tank which, of course, depends upon the supply of steam from the blow-ofl' tank. 1

I also aim to provide means for so dis-- tributing the feed water as it enters the tank that it will become thoroughly mixed with the warm or hot water already in the tank immediately rather than to settle in a layer at the bottom of the tank. Means are also furnished to admit the steam ina way to somewhat agitate the water in the tank! with the least amount of noise.

It will be understood that my system Patented July 31, 1917.

sure a large part of it immediately flashes into steam. It is by this means that most of the heat in the boiler Water is transferred over to the supply tank 10. I may, in some ous engine stalls cases, prefer to use separate feed tanks for wash and filling purposes, the latter being kept the hotter.

Obviously other supplementary means may also be used in case the blow-off tank fails to furnishenough steam to heat the reservoir sufiiciently.

Referring to the drawings, in which I have disclosed a preferred embodiment and in which like numerals refer to like parts, I have shown in diagrammatical form the essential elements of mysystem and the preferred connections for same.

. A locomotive boiler 1 is shown in its position in a stall of a roundhouse in which my system is installed. By means of connection 2 the lower part of the boiler is connected through a flexible pipe to the rigid blow-elf pipe 3 which leads through a check valve 4-to the main blow-ofi' pipe 5. This main pipe extends around the inside of the roundhouse and has branch connections similar to 3 leading off to the vari- As shown in the drawing it leads to the upper end of the blow-off or separator tank 6 which is provided at the top with a suitable safety valve 16 adapted to operate on a predetermined pressure. From the bottom there extends a goose neck exhaust pipe 7 leading to the sewer or other place of waste water disposal.

Connected to the upper end of this blowoif tank is the steam exhaust pipe 8 leading to the top of the main water supply tank into which the steam is delivered and mixed with the water by means of one or more perforated delivery nozzles 9 generally known as noiseless heaters.

The above mentioned waste water pipe 7 is provided in the upper part of the goose neck with a back pressure'valve 25 adapted to operate at a predetermined pressure which in practice has been found to be prefto control the rate of flow of water. This supply pipe 21 extending from any suit-i as erably about five pounds and thereby release the water in tank 6 when it gets nearly full or if the steam pressure is not otherwise suiiiciently released.

Feed water, preferably that which has been treated to remove scale forming material is fed to thestorage tank through a supply pipe in whichis connected a thermostaticallycontrolled regulator 19 adapted able source enters the tank at or near the top and extends transversely across the interior, the discharge portion 21' being pro vided with numerous small perforations adapted to emit the water in the form of small drops or. spray which falling upon the surface of the Warm Water in the tank will most readily mix therewith and form a mixture of uniform temperature throughout the tank. I

The perforated steam nozzle or noisel ss rises, this change of temperature, of course,

depending upon the amount of steam supplied from the blow-oil tank. The result of this operation, it will be seen, is to admit steam and water in substantially uniform proportions adapted to maintain nearly a constant temperature in the tank. This temperature is preferably well upward toward the boiling point for feed water, but

. where, as in most cases, wash water is taken from the same tank 125 F. is preferred.

Water from the tank is taken from the base of the reser oir by means of a delivery pipe 22 leading to a suction pump 11 from whence the hot water is delivered under pressure through the pipe 12 to the main delivery pipe 23 which leads around to the several engine stalls in the roundhouse, preferably alongside its companion or blowoff pipe 5. This pipe 23 is provided at suitable points with branches 13 each'equipped with a flexible hose and nozzle 24 adapted to facilitate washing out the boilers, and also with other pipes 14 each having a flexible portion adaptedto make connection at 15 with the locomotive boiler for refilling the same.

The advantage of my system will be seen upon considering briefly the ordinary operation of blowing off, washing out, and re filling a locomotive boiler in accordance with my method and apparatus.

' As soon as the its stall in the roundhouse connection is made at 2, then the adjacent valve 2' is turned, whereupon the steam pressure in the boiler will rapidly force all water from the locomotive boiler into the blow-ofi' tank or separator 6. As this tank is of large size, for example, of a capacity upward to two or three thousand gallons, there is abundant room for copious evolution of steam which readily finds its way through the 'laige exhaust pipe 8 having ample capacity to take care of the steam as fast as it is received or formed in the blow-oil" tank. Ample provisions are made for immediately condensing this steam by exhausting it through a plurality of noiseless heaters or nozzles in locomotive is in, place in the main reservoir tank preferably near the v through the wash-out hose and the boiler 7 my invention.

may thus be quickly cleaned. If scraping is necessary the mud and scale may be flushed out by means of the hose. As soon as this operation is finished the water filling pipe let may be connected as shown at 15 and by turning valve 15 hot water may be immediately pumped into the boiler under pressure which may be carried up to normal operating pressure if desired. It will be understood, as above explained, that the heated water may be used either for washing or filling purposes, although in some of the appended claims I have referred to the storage tank as a receptacle for filling water. Although I have confined my description to particular embodiment still I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details herein described and set forth as modifications'may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class .described, a blow-off tank, a delivery pipe communicating therewith, a branch pipe communicating 4 with said delivery pipe and means to connect the latter to a locomotive boiler, a storage tank, a discharge pipe leading from said pipe leading from said storage tank and adapted to supply heated water therefrom, a branch pipe communicating therewith and adapted to be connected to said locomotive boiler, whereby heated water can be conducted from said storage tank to said locomotive boiler.

2. In a device of the class described, a storage tank, a steam pipe leading into said storage tank and discharging adjacent the bottom thereof, a discharge nozzle at the end' of said discharge pipe by meansof which the discharging steam is disseminated over a large area of the tank, a cold water supply pipe located adjacent the upper portion of said storage tank and adapted to supply cold wat'er to the interior thereof over a considerable area, and a thermostatically operating means to control the admission of said cold water according to the temperature of the water in said storage tank.

3. In apparatus .01" the class described, a blow-off tank, a pipe adapted to receive hot water blown offfrom a locomotive and arranged to communicate with the upper part of said tank, a water storage and heating tank, a steam pipe communicating with the upper part of said blow-off tank and leading directly therefrom to the lower part of ranged to communicate with the upper part of said tank, a water storage and heating tank, a steam pipe communicating with the upper part of said blow-off tank and leading directly therefrom to the lower part of said storage and heating tank to discharge beneath the level of the water therein, a cold water supply pipe communicating with the upper part of said heating and storage tank and adapted to supply cold water to the 1 interior thereof over a considerable area, and

thermostatic means to automatically regulate the delivery of cold water to said heating and storage tank according to the ternperature of the water in said tank. v 5. In a device of the class described, a relatively tall and narrow blow-oif tank, a blowoff pipe adapted to receive hot water blown 0H from a locomotive and arranged to communicate with the upper part of said blow-ofi' tank, an exhaust steam pipe leading from the upper part of said tank, awaste water pipe leading from the lower part of said tank and having a gooseneck formed therein,

and a back-pressure valve in said pipe on the discharge side of said gooseneck.

6. A locomotive boiler washing and refilling system comprising a receptacle for filling water, means for conveying the steam blown off from a locomotive boiler thereto and for condensing the steam therein, a cold water line communicating with the receptacle, and a thermostatically operated valve in the cold water line controlled by variations in temperature of the water in said receptacle.

7. A locomotive boiler washing and refilling system comprising a receptacle for I filling water, means for raising the mperature of the water in thereceptacle by the steam blown off from the locomoti e, and

automatic means for admitting fres Water to the receptacle when the water therein reaches a predetermined temperature.

8. A locomotive boiler washing and refilling system comprising a receptacle for filling water, means for conducting the steam blown off from a locomotive boiler to said receptacle, and means governed by the temperature of the. body of water in the receptacle whereby fresh water may be added to said body of water.

9. In a locomotive boiler washing and filling system, the combination of a receptacle for filling water, means for receiving the blown-off steam' from the locomotive, arranged 'Within said receptacle so as to transmit the heat units thereto, a fresh cold water line connected with said receptacle, means arranged Within said receptacle adapted to be afiected by the temperature of the water within said receptacle whereby the flow of cold water into the receptacle is automatically controlled, with means for conveying the'water from said receptacle to the locomotive as filling Water.

10. In a wash-out and refilling system for boilers of the general type described, the combination of a reservoir for containing the refilling water, connections to said refilling water reservoir adapted for sup plying the refilling water thereto and discharging it therefrom and connections for admitting blow-off steam to said refilling reservoir, and automatic means for opening said water supply connection when the water contained in said reservoir attains a predetermined temperature and for closing said supply connection when the tempera ture of the water in said reservoir is less than said predetermined temperature, substantially as described.

' 11. In apparatus of the class described, a blow-0H tank, a delivery pipe communieating therewith, means for connecting said delivery pipe to a locomotive "boiler, a storage tank, a discharge pipe leading from said blow-off tank to said storage tank and adapted to deliver steam thereto from said blow-0t]? tank, means communicating with said storage tank for supplying fresh water thereto, means to automatically regulate the admission of fresh water according to the temperature of the water in said storage tank, a discharge pipe leading from said storage tank and adapted to supply heated water therefrom, and means for'connecting said discharge pipe to a locomotive boiler, whereby heated Water can be conducted from said storage tank to a locomotive boiler.

12. In a. device of the class described, a storage tank, a steam pipe leading into said storage tank and discharging beneath the level of the water therein, a discharge nozzle at the end of said discharge pipe by means of which the discharging contents of said pipe are disseminated over a large area of the tank, a cold Water supply means for supplying fresh water to said storage tank, and a thermostatically operating means to control admission of fresh water through said cold water supply means according to the temperature of the water in said tank.

In. testimony whereof, I have subscribed my-Iiame.

W. A. POWERS; Witnesses:

Gnonon W. R-EAMON, J. R. PAmusH. 

